# NTSB CHI06CA107: Cessna 150, N50970, Sandstone, MN, April 10, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 9, 2006, 23:30 local (Apr 10, 2006, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Sandstone, MN
- Coordinates: 46.14389, -93.004722
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1439&lon=-93.0047&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63539
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63539/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA107

## Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight.  A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The single-engine airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power.  The pilot reported that after about one hour of flight during a night cross-country flight, the engine began to run rough.  The pilot reported that he pulled the carburetor heat on, and the engine ran normally for about 1-5 minutes.  He reported that the engine lost power without any warning indications.  He executed a forced landing to a field, but the airplane "ground looped" during the rollout.  The inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks had minimal fuel in the tanks.  No fuel leaks were observed and no fuel was visible on the ground.  The Hobbs meter indicated that the airplane was flown 4.9 hours since the last time the airplane was filled with fuel.  The airplane held 26 gallons of fuel with 22.5 gallons useable.

## Factual narrative

The single-engine airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power.  The pilot reported that after about one hour of flight during a night cross-country flight, the engine began to run rough.  The pilot reported that he pulled the carburetor heat on, and the engine ran normally for about 1-5 minutes.  He reported that the engine quit without any warning indications.  He executed a forced landing to a field, but the airplane "ground looped" during the rollout.  The inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks had minimal fuel in the tanks.  No fuel leaks were observed and no fuel was visible on the ground.  The Hobbs meter indicated that the airplane was flown 4.9 hours since the last time the airplane was filled with fuel.  The airplane held 26 gallons of fuel with 22.5 gallons useable.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50970](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50970-2012-12-10), registration cancelled 2012-12-10, S/N 15069681, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15069681
- Engines: Continental O-200 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: JN Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ROS, Rush City, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2; flight hours: 115 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20060409005179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060409005179A), Apr 9, 2006: Cessna 150J, Sandstone, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot [privacy data omitted] departed hawk aviation in rush city MN in a Cessna 150 (N50970) at approximately 2100 on 04/10. There were no employees at…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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